1
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Dehaudt B, Bruce T, Deblauwe V, Ferraz A, Gardner B, Bibila TG'B, LeBreton M, Mempong G, Njabo K, Nkengbeza SN, Ordway EM, Pavan L, Russo NJ, Smith TB, Luskin MS. Divergent seed dispersal outcomes: Interactions between seed, disperser, and forest traits. Ecology 2024:e4409. [PMID: 39192478 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Animals disperse seeds in various ways that affect seed deposition sites and seed survival, ultimately shaping plant species distribution, community composition, and ecosystem structure. Some animal species can disperse seeds through multiple pathways (e.g., defecation, regurgitation, epizoochory), each likely producing distinct seed dispersal outcomes. We studied how seed traits (size and toughness) interact with disperser species to influence seed dispersal pathway and how this ultimately shapes the proportion of seeds deposited in various habitat types. We focused on three frugivorous species of duikers (African forest antelopes) in the Dja Faunal Reserve, a tropical rainforest in southern Cameroon. Duikers can both defecate and regurgitate seeds, the latter predominantly occurring during rumination at their bedding sites (or "nests"). We located duiker nests and dungs along 18 linear 1-km-transects to assess: (1) how seed traits affect the likelihood of dispersal via defecation versus regurgitation, (2) if defecated versus regurgitated seeds are deposited at different rates in different forest types (assessed by indigenous Baka), microhabitats, and forest structural attributes (measured by drone lidar), and (3) if these differ between three duiker species that vary in size and diel activity patterns. We found that duikers predominantly defecated small seeds (<3 mm length) and regurgitated larger and tougher seeds (>10 mm length), the latter including 25 different plant species. The three duiker species varied in their nesting habits, with nocturnal bay duikers (Cephalophus dorsalis) nesting in dense understory vegetation at proportions 3-4 times higher than Peter's and yellow-backed duikers (Cephalophus callipygus and Cephalophus silvicultor). As a result, bay duikers deposited larger regurgitated seeds at a higher rate in habitats with denser understory where lianas and palms predominate and near fallen trees. This directed regurgitation seed deposition likely plays an important and unique role in forest succession and structure. This study highlights the importance of ungulate seed dispersal by regurgitation, a vastly understudied process that could impact many ecosystems given the prevalence of ruminating ungulates worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Dehaudt
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tom Bruce
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vincent Deblauwe
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, Yaounde, Cameroon
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - António Ferraz
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Brett Gardner
- Zoos Victoria, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Matthew LeBreton
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, Yaounde, Cameroon
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Kevin Njabo
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Elsa M Ordway
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lucas Pavan
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nicholas J Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Thomas B Smith
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Matthew Scott Luskin
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Congo Basin Institute, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Svenning JC, Buitenwerf R, Le Roux E. Trophic rewilding as a restoration approach under emerging novel biosphere conditions. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R435-R451. [PMID: 38714176 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Rewilding is a restoration approach that aims to promote self-regulating complex ecosystems by restoring non-human ecological processes while reducing human control and pressures. Rewilding is forward-looking in that it aims to enhance functionality for biodiversity, accepting and indeed promoting the dynamic nature of ecosystems, rather than fixating on static composition or structure. Rewilding is thus especially relevant in our epoch of increasingly novel biosphere conditions, driven by strong human-induced global change. Here, we explore this hypothesis in the context of trophic rewilding - the restoration of trophic complexity mediated by wild, large-bodied animals, known as 'megafauna'. This focus reflects the strong ecological impacts of large-bodied animals, their widespread loss during the last 50,000 years and their high diversity and ubiquity in the preceding 50 million years. Restoring abundant, diverse, wild-living megafauna is expected to promote vegetation heterogeneity, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and biotic microhabitats. These are fundamental drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem function and are likely to gain importance for maintaining a biodiverse biosphere under increasingly novel ecological conditions. Non-native megafauna species may contribute to these effects as ecological surrogates of extinct species or by promoting ecological functionality within novel assemblages. Trophic rewilding has strong upscaling potential via population growth and expansion of wild fauna. It is likely to facilitate biotic adaptation to changing climatic conditions and resilience to ecosystem collapse, and to curb some negative impacts of globalization, notably the dominance of invasive alien plants. Finally, we discuss the complexities of realizing the biodiversity benefits that trophic rewilding offers under novel biosphere conditions in a heavily populated world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Robert Buitenwerf
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Elizabeth Le Roux
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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3
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Pouteau R, Picard J, Doumenge C, Brncic T, Gillet JF, Doucet JL, Gourlet-Fleury S, Kimpouni V, Loumeto JJ, Pélissier R, Réjou-Méchain M. The puzzling ecology of African Marantaceae forests. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16320. [PMID: 38629307 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Marantaceae forests are tropical rainforests characterized by a continuous understory layer of perennial giant herbs and a near absence of tree regeneration. Although widespread in West-Central Africa, Marantaceae forests have rarely been considered in the international literature. Yet, they pose key challenges and opportunities for theoretical ecology that transcend the borders of the continent. Specifically, we ask in this review whether open Marantaceae forests and dense closed-canopy forests can be considered as one of the few documented examples of alternative stable states in tropical forests. First, we introduce the different ecological factors that have been posited to drive Marantaceae forests (climate, soil, historical and recent anthropogenic pressures, herbivores) and develop the different hypotheses that have been suggested to explain how Marantaceae forests establish in relation with other vegetation types (understory invasion, early succession after disturbance, and intermediate successional stage). Then, we review the underlying ecological mechanisms that can explain the stability of Marantaceae forests in the long term (tree recruitment inhibition, promotion of and resilience to fire, adaptive reproduction, maintenance by megaherbivores). Although some uncertainties remain and call for further empirical and theoretical research, we found converging evidence that Marantaceae forests are associated with an ecological succession that has been deflected or arrested. If verified, Marantaceae forests may provide a useful model to understand critical transitions in forest ecosystems, which is of particular relevance to achieve sustainable forest management and mitigate global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Pouteau
- AMAP, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Juliette Picard
- AMAP, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Charles Doumenge
- Forests & Societies, CIRAD, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Jean-Louis Doucet
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | | | - Victor Kimpouni
- Ecole normale supérieure, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Jean-Joël Loumeto
- Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Raphaël Pélissier
- AMAP, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
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4
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Russo NJ, Davies AB, Blakey RV, Ordway EM, Smith TB. Feedback loops between 3D vegetation structure and ecological functions of animals. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1597-1613. [PMID: 37419868 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems function in a series of feedback loops that can change or maintain vegetation structure. Vegetation structure influences the ecological niche space available to animals, shaping many aspects of behaviour and reproduction. In turn, animals perform ecological functions that shape vegetation structure. However, most studies concerning three-dimensional vegetation structure and animal ecology consider only a single direction of this relationship. Here, we review these separate lines of research and integrate them into a unified concept that describes a feedback mechanism. We also show how remote sensing and animal tracking technologies are now available at the global scale to describe feedback loops and their consequences for ecosystem functioning. An improved understanding of how animals interact with vegetation structure in feedback loops is needed to conserve ecosystems that face major disruptions in response to climate and land-use change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew B Davies
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel V Blakey
- La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Elsa M Ordway
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Thomas B Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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5
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Rubalcava‐Castillo FA, Valdivia‐Flores AG, Luna‐Ruíz JDJ, Íñiguez‐Dávalos LI, Martínez‐Calderón VM, Meraz Jiménez ADJ, Sosa‐Ramírez J. Effects of endozoochory and diploendozoochory by captive wild mammals on Juniperus deppeana seeds. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10262. [PMID: 37408625 PMCID: PMC10319472 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Carnivorous mammals disperse seeds through endozoochory and diploendozoochory. The former consists of ingestion of the fruit, passage through the digestive tract, and expulsion of the seeds, a process that allows scarification and dispersal of the seeds over long or short distances. The latter is typical of predators that expel seeds that were contained in the prey and the effects of which may differ from those of endozoochory with respect to the retention time of the seeds in the tracts, as well as their scarification and viability. The objective of this study was to conduct an experimental evaluation comparing the capacity of each mammal species in terms of the dispersal of Juniperus deppeana seeds and, at the same time, to compare this capacity through the two dispersal systems: endozoochory and diploendozoochory. We measured dispersal capacity using indices of recovery, viability, changes in testas, and retention time of seeds in the digestive tract. Juniperus deppeana fruits were collected in the Sierra Fría Protected Natural Area in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and were administered in the diet of captive mammals: gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coati (Nasua narica) and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). These three mammals represented the endozoochoric dispersers. For the diploendozoochoric treatment, seeds excreted by rabbits were incorporated into the diets of captive mammals: bobcat (Lynx rufus) and cougar (Puma concolor), in a local zoo. Seeds present in the scats were then collected, and recovery rates and retention times were estimated. Viability was estimated by X-ray optical densitometry and testa thicknesses were measured and surfaces checked using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed a recovery of seeds greater than 70% in all the animals. The retention time was <24 h in the endozoochory but longer at 24-96 h in the diploendozoochory (p < .05). Seed viability (x ¯ ± SD) was decreased in rabbits (74.0 ± 11.5%), compared to fruits obtained directly from the canopy (89.7 ± 2.0%), while gray fox, coati, bobcat, and cougar did not affect seed viability (p < .05). An increase in the thickness of the testas was also observed in seeds excreted from all mammals (p < .05). Through evaluation, our results suggest that mammalian endozoochory and diploendozoochory contribute to the dispersal of J. deppeana by maintaining viable seeds with adaptive characteristics in the testa to promote forest regeneration and restoration. In particular, feline predators can provide an ecosystem service through scarification and seed dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luis Ignacio Íñiguez‐Dávalos
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro Universitario de la Costa SurUniversidad de GuadalajaraAutlán de NavarroMexico
| | | | | | - Joaquín Sosa‐Ramírez
- Centro de Ciencias AgropecuariasUniversidad Autónoma de AguascalientesAguascalientesMexico
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6
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Watanabe K, Kondo M, Ikenaka Y, Nakayama SMM, Ishizuka M. A Comparative Genomic and Phylogenetic Investigation of the Xenobiotic Metabolism Enzymes of Cytochrome P450 in Elephants Shows Loss in CYP2E and CYP4A. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1939. [PMID: 37370449 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 is an important enzyme that metabolizes a variety of chemicals, including exogenous substances, such as drugs and environmental chemicals, and endogenous substances, such as steroids, fatty acids, and cholesterol. Some CYPs show interspecific differences in terms of genetic variation. As little is known about the mechanisms of elephant metabolism, we carried out a comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis of CYP in elephants. Our results suggest that elephant CYP genes have undergone independent duplication, particularly in the CYP2A, CYP2C, and CYP3A genes, a unique cluster specific to elephant species. However, while CYP2E and CYP4A were conserved in other Afrotheria taxa, their decay in elephants resulted in genetic dysfunction (pseudogene). These findings outline several remarkable characteristics of elephant CYP1-4 genes and provide new insights into elephant xenobiotic metabolism. Further functional investigations are necessary to characterize elephant CYP, including expression patterns and interactions with drugs and sensitivities to other chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanami Watanabe
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Mitsuki Kondo
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) Biodiversity Division, Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Ikenaka
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
- Translational Research Unit, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shouta M M Nakayama
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
- Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Mayumi Ishizuka
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
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7
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de Silva S, Wu T, Nyhus P, Weaver A, Thieme A, Johnson J, Wadey J, Mossbrucker A, Vu T, Neang T, Chen BS, Songer M, Leimgruber P. Land-use change is associated with multi-century loss of elephant ecosystems in Asia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5996. [PMID: 37105960 PMCID: PMC10140153 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30650-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding historic patterns of land use and land cover change across large temporal and spatial scales is critical for developing effective biodiversity conservation management and policy. We quantify the extent and fragmentation of suitable habitat across the continental range of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) based on present-day occurrence data and land-use variables between 850 and 2015 A.D. We found that following centuries of relative stability, over 64% (3.36 million km2) of suitable elephant habitat across Asia was lost since the year 1700, coincident with colonial-era land-use practices in South Asia and subsequent agricultural intensification in Southeast Asia. Average patch size dropped 83% from approximately 99,000-16,000 km2 and the area occupied by the largest patch decreased 83% from ~ 4 million km2 (45% of area) to 54,000 km2 (~ 7.5% of area). Whereas 100% of the area within 100 km of the current elephant range could have been considered suitable habitat in the year 1700, over half was unsuitable by 2015, driving potential conflict with people. These losses reflect long-term decline of non-forested ecosystems, exceeding estimates of deforestation within this century. Societies must consider ecological histories in addition to proximate threats to develop more just and sustainable land-use and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shermin de Silva
- Trunks and Leaves Inc., 82 Wendell Avenue, STE 100, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, USA.
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
- Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Tiffany Wu
- Environmental Studies Program, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
| | - Philip Nyhus
- Environmental Studies Program, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
| | - Ashley Weaver
- Environmental Studies Program, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
| | - Alison Thieme
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Josiah Johnson
- Environmental Studies Program, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
| | - Jamie Wadey
- School of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Thinh Vu
- Department of Wildlife Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thy Neang
- Wild Earth Allies, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Melissa Songer
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
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8
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Davidar P, Sharma R, de Silva S, Campos-Arceiz A, Goossens B, Puyravaud JP, Habib B, De R, Wong EP, Neupane D, Othman NB, Goyal SP. Connect elephant habitats in Asia. Science 2023; 379:765. [PMID: 36821683 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg7470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Davidar
- Sigur Nature Trust, Mavinhalla PO, Nilgiris, TN 643223, India
| | - Reeta Sharma
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
| | - Shermin de Silva
- Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Trunks & Leaves Inc., Pittsfield, MA, USA
| | - Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Benoit Goossens
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, Wisma Muis, Sabah, Malaysia
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Bilal Habib
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
| | - Rahul De
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
| | - Ee Phin Wong
- Faculty of Science & Engineering, School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500 Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Dinesh Neupane
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Nurzhafarina Binti Othman
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - S P Goyal
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
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9
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Dispersal success of a specialized tropical tree depends on complex interactions among diverse mammalian frugivores. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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10
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Mohd-Radzi NHS, Karuppannan KV, Abdullah-Fauzi NAF, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Othman N, Muhammad Abu Bakar AL, Gani M, Abdul-Razak MFA, Md-Zain BM. Determining the diet of wild Asian elephants ( Elephasmaximus) at human-elephant conflict areas in Peninsular Malaysia using DNA metabarcoding. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e89752. [PMID: 36761586 PMCID: PMC9836633 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e89752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) contributes to the increasing death of Asian elephants due to road accidents, retaliatory killings and fatal infections from being trapped in snares. Understanding the diet of elephants throughout Peninsular Malaysia remains crucial to improve their habitat quality and reduce scenarios of HEC. DNA metabarcoding allows investigating the diet of animals without direct observation, especially in risky conflict areas. The aim of this study was to determine: i) the diet of wild Asian elephants from HEC areas in Peninsular Malaysia using DNA metabarcoding and ii) the influence of distinct environmental parameters at HEC locations on their feeding patterns. DNA was extracted from 39 faecal samples and pooled into 12 groups representing the different sample locations: Kuala Koh, Kenyir, Ulu Muda, Sira Batu, Kupang-Grik, Bumbun Tahan, Belum-Temengor, Grik, Kampung Pagi, Kampung Kuala Balah, Aring 10 and the National Elephant Conservation Centre, which served as a positive control for this study. DNA amplification and sequencing targeted the ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene using the next-generation sequencing Illumina iSeq100 platform. Overall, we identified 35 orders, 88 families, 196 genera and 237 species of plants in the diet of the Asian elephants at HEC hotspots. Ficus (Moraceae), Curcuma (Zingiberaceae), Phoenix (Arecaceae), Maackia (Fabaceae), Garcinia (Clusiaceae) and Dichapetalum (Dichapetalaceae) were the highly abundant dietary plants. The plants successfully identified in this study could be used by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) to create buffer zones by planting the recommended dietary plants around HEC locations and trails of elephants within Central Forest Spine (CFS) landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Hafisa Syafina Mohd-Radzi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000, Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43000, Bangi, SelangorMalaysia
| | - Kayal Vizi Karuppannan
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras56100, Kuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Nurfatiha Akmal Fawwazah Abdullah-Fauzi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000, Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43000, Bangi, SelangorMalaysia
| | - Abd Rahman Mohd-Ridwan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000, Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43000, Bangi, SelangorMalaysia,Centre for Pre-University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MalaysiaCentre for Pre-University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak94300 Kota Samarahan, SarawakMalaysia
| | - Nursyuhada Othman
- Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (Pagoh Campus), 84600 Johor, MalaysiaFaculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (Pagoh Campus)84600 JohorMalaysia
| | - Abdul-Latiff Muhammad Abu Bakar
- Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (Pagoh Campus), 84600 Johor, MalaysiaFaculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (Pagoh Campus)84600 JohorMalaysia,Oasis Integrated Group (OIG), Institute for Integrated Engineering (I2E), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, MalaysiaOasis Integrated Group (OIG), Institute for Integrated Engineering (I2E), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia86400 Parit Raja, JohorMalaysia
| | - Millawati Gani
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000, Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43000, Bangi, SelangorMalaysia,Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras56100, Kuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Mohd Firdaus Ariff Abdul-Razak
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras56100, Kuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Badrul Munir Md-Zain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000, Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43000, Bangi, SelangorMalaysia
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11
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de la Torre JA, Cheah C, Lechner AM, Wong EP, Tuuga A, Saaban S, Goossens B, Campos‐Arceiz A. Sundaic elephants prefer habitats on the periphery of protected areas. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Antonio de la Torre
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
- Programa Jaguares de la Selva Maya Bioconciencia A.C. Ciudad de Mexico Mexico
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih Malaysia
| | - Cheryl Cheah
- WWF‐Malaysia Centre Point Complex Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
| | - Alex M. Lechner
- Urban Transformations Hub Monash University Indonesia The Breeze BSD City Indonesia
| | - Ee Phin Wong
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih Malaysia
- Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih Malaysia
| | | | - Salman Saaban
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - Benoit Goossens
- Sabah Wildlife Department Wisma MUIS Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
- Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK
- Danau Girang Field Centre c/o Sabah Wildlife Department Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
| | - Ahimsa Campos‐Arceiz
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih Malaysia
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12
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Scalbert M, Vermeulen C, Breuer T, Doucet J. The challenging coexistence of forest elephants
Loxodonta cyclotis
and timber concessions in central Africa. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Scalbert
- Université de Liège – Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech, Forest is Life, Terra Teaching and Research Centre Passage des Déportés 2 B‐5030 Gembloux Belgium
| | - Cédric Vermeulen
- Université de Liège – Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech, Forest is Life, Terra Teaching and Research Centre Passage des Déportés 2 B‐5030 Gembloux Belgium
| | - Thomas Breuer
- World Wide Fund for Nature Germany Reinhardstr. 18 10117 Berlin Germany
| | - Jean‐Louis Doucet
- Université de Liège – Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech, Forest is Life, Terra Teaching and Research Centre Passage des Déportés 2 B‐5030 Gembloux Belgium
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13
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Goldenberg SZ, Chege SM, Mwangi N, Craig I, Daballen D, Douglas-Hamilton I, Lamberski N, Lenaipa M, Lendira R, Lesowapir C, Lokooria LP, Mutinda M, Omengo F, Rowe K, Stacy-Dawes J, Wittemyer G, Owen MA. Social integration of translocated wildlife: a case study of rehabilitated and released elephant calves in northern Kenya. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractConservation translocations have the potential to strengthen populations of threatened and endangered species, but facilitating integration of translocated individuals with resident populations remains a substantial challenge. Developing functional social relationships like cooperative partnerships or establishing clear dominance hierarchies may be critical to integration of released individuals. Developing such relationships has not received much attention in translocation research, especially for long-lived, socially complex animals for which establishment and navigation of social environments is often a lengthy process that requires sustained monitoring to understand. Here, we present a case study of the social associations of African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) calves that have been rehabilitated and released into a fenced wildlife sanctuary in northern Kenya with a resident population of elephants. We use focal follows of interactions pre-release and GPS tracking post-release to quantify social associations of calves with each other and with resident elephants at the release site. We demonstrate how this approach supports translocation monitoring by capturing temporal trends in social patterns within and between release cohorts and among released elephants and wild elephants already resident at the site during a transitional soft release period. Our results show that initial post-release social behavior of rehabilitated calves is related to histories of interaction with familiar individuals and cohort membership and that released calves increased their associations with residents over time. This information provides new behavioral insights for guiding elephant release projects, like the strength of relationships within and among release cohorts, the time to integration with the resident population, and the occurrence and increased incidence of societal fission–fusion. Further, this study provides an example of the utility of animal behavior research to achieve and assess progress towards conservation objectives, and to develop monitoring tools for conservation managers.
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14
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Ramesh T, Milda D, Kalle R, Gayathri V, Thanikodi M, Ashish K, Giordano AJ. Drivers of human-megaherbivore interactions in the Eastern and Western Ghats of southern India. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115315. [PMID: 35598453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global effort to protect megaherbivore populations is largely dependent on how human-wildlife conflict is identified, prioritized, and remedied. We examined the socio-ecological and landscape-scale factors determining spatial patterns of human-megaherbivore (Asian elephant Elephas maximus and gaur Bos gaurus) interactions across sixteen Forest Divisions in Tamil Nadu, India. Using a systematic grid-based design, we conducted questionnaire-based surveys of 1460 households at the human-wildlife interface adjacent to Protected Areas, Reserve Forest and Fringe Areas. We specifically collected information on elephant and gaur conflict incidents (e.g., human death/injuries, property damage, and crop-raiding), cropland type, extent of crop area and area lost to crop-raiding, from each household. We found that human-elephant conflict increased with percentage of crop cover, diversity of major and minor crops grown, proximity to water source, flat terrain, and lower rates of precipitation. Human-gaur conflict was greatest with a high diversity of major crops, proximity to water source, moderate precipitation, and more undulating terrain. We identified ca. 7900 km2 hotspot area of contiguous high-intensity elephant conflict. For gaur, we identified high-frequency conflict hotspot areas covering ca. 625 km2, which were patchily distributed, highly localised, and attributed mostly to the recent changing land-use patterns. Our findings will help policymakers and park managers in developing landscape-scale human-wildlife conflict mitigation plans in the identified conflict hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharmalingam Ramesh
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA.
| | - David Milda
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - Riddhika Kalle
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA; Division of Environmental Impact Assessment, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - V Gayathri
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - M Thanikodi
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - K Ashish
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - Anthony J Giordano
- S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA
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15
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Das P, Kshettry A, Kumara HN. Trunk picking from a truncating menu: Dry season forage selection by Asian elephant in a multi-use landscape. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271052. [PMID: 35802712 PMCID: PMC9269951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elephants show a strong selection towards areas with high foraging opportunities at the landscape level making top-down decisions by first selecting patch types within landscapes and finally species within them. Understanding forage selection in a multi-use landscape is critical for prioritising patches for habitat management, ensuring availability of selected forage, helping in minimizing pressure on food crops and subsequent negative interactions with people. We assessed dry season forage selection in a multi-use landscape of West Bengal state, India. Relative forage use and relative plant species availability ratio were calculated to assess forage selection in a multi-use landscape comprising of the forest, tea estates, agricultural land, and human settlement. Forage use was assessed using the opportunistic feeding trail observation method (150.01 km). Stratified random sampling was used to assess plant species availability using the quadrat method (123 plots of 0.1 ha each). Among 286 plant species recorded, 132 plant species were consumed by elephants. A majority (80.21%) of plant species were consumed more than the proportional availability thereby showing selective foraging during the dry season in the study area. From forest to semi-open forest and open forest, canopy layer tree density and the total number of species decreased whereas invasive species density increased. This indicates the high impact on the forage species availability for elephants and the requirement of appropriate habitat management strategies. The presence of 32.14% of the selected forage species in human-use landscape alone demands the development of conservation interventions. This is the first study to assess forage selection by elephants in a multi-use landscape and used to prioritise conservation and management strategies at a landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Das
- Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- * E-mail: (PD); (HNK)
| | - Aritra Kshettry
- INSPIRE-Fellow, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - H. N. Kumara
- Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- * E-mail: (PD); (HNK)
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16
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Mason DS, Baruzzi C, Lashley MA. Passive directed dispersal of plants by animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1908-1929. [PMID: 35770842 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Conceptual gaps and imprecise terms and definitions may obscure the breadth of plant-animal dispersal relationships involved in directed dispersal. The term 'directed' indicates predictable delivery to favourable microsites. However, directed dispersal was initially considered uncommon in diffuse mutualisms (i.e. those involving many species), partly because plants rarely influence post-removal propagule fate without specialized adaptations. This rationale implies that donor plants play an active role in directed dispersal by manipulating vector behaviour after propagule removal. However, even in most classic examples of directed dispersal, participating plants do not influence animal behaviour after propagule removal. Instead, such plants may take advantage of vector attraction to favourable plant microsites, indicating a need to expand upon current interpretations of directed dispersal. We contend that directed dispersal can emerge whenever propagules are disproportionately delivered to favourable microsites as a result of predictably skewed vector behaviour. Thus, we propose distinguishing active and passive forms of directed dispersal. In active directed dispersal, the donor plant achieves disproportionate arrival to favourable microsites by influencing vector behaviour after propagule removal. By contrast, passive directed dispersal occurs when the donor plant takes advantage of vector behaviour to arrive at favourable microsites. Whereas predictable post-removal vector behaviour is dictated by characteristics of the donor plant in active directed dispersal, characteristics of the destination dictate predictable post-removal vector behaviour in passive directed dispersal. Importantly, this passive form of directed dispersal may emerge in more plant-animal dispersal relationships because specialized adaptations in donor plants that influence post-removal vector behaviour are not required. We explore the occurrence and consequences of passive directed dispersal using the unifying generalized gravity model of dispersal. This model successfully describes vectored dispersal by incorporating the influence of the environment (i.e. attractiveness of microsites) on vector movement. When applying gravity models to dispersal, the three components of Newton's gravity equation (i.e. gravitational force, object mass, and distance between centres of mass) become analogous to propagules moving towards a location based on characteristics of the donor plant, the destination, and relocation processes. The generalized gravity model predicts passive directed dispersal in plant-animal dispersal relationships when (i) animal vectors are predictably attracted to specific destinations, (ii) animal vectors disproportionately disperse propagules to those destinations, and (iii) those destinations are also favourable microsites for the dispersed plants. Our literature search produced evidence for these three conditions broadly, and we identified 13 distinct scenarios where passive directed dispersal likely occurs because vector behaviour is predictably skewed towards favourable microsites. We discuss the wide applicability of passive directed dispersal to plant-animal mutualisms and provide new insights into the vulnerability of those mutualisms to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Mason
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
| | - Carolina Baruzzi
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110410, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
| | - Marcus A Lashley
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
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17
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Chen Y, Atzeni L, Gibson L, Sun Y, Yang Z, Shi K, Dudgeon D. Urban expansion and infrastructure development reduce habitat suitability for Asian elephants in southwestern China. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083 China
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Luciano Atzeni
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083 China
| | - Luke Gibson
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Yakuan Sun
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083 China
| | - Zicheng Yang
- Kunming Institute of Survey and Design, State Forestry and Grassland Administration Kunming 650031 China
| | - Kun Shi
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083 China
- Eco‐Bridge Continental Beijing 100085 China
| | - David Dudgeon
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
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18
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Plastic ingestion in Asian elephants in the forested landscapes of Uttarakhand, India. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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19
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Acknowledging the Relevance of Elephant Sensory Perception to Human–Elephant Conflict Mitigation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081018. [PMID: 35454264 PMCID: PMC9031250 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Elephants have a unique sensory perspective of the world, using their complex olfactory and auditory systems to make foraging and social decisions. All three species of elephants are endangered and inhabit environments, which are being affected rapidly by human development. Anthropogenic disturbances can have significant effects on elephants’ abilities to perceive sensory information and communicate with one another, potentially further endangering their survival. Conflicts over high-quality resources also arise from the overlapping habitation of humans and elephants. While many different methods have been employed to reduce this conflict, we propose that elephants’ unique olfactory and acoustic sensory strengths be considered in future mitigation strategies to achieve coexistence. Abstract Elephants are well known for their socio-cognitive abilities and capacity for multi-modal sensory perception and communication. Their highly developed olfactory and acoustic senses provide them with a unique non-visual perspective of their physical and social worlds. The use of these complex sensory signals is important not only for communication between conspecifics, but also for decisions about foraging and navigation. These decisions have grown increasingly risky given the exponential increase in unpredictable anthropogenic change in elephants’ natural habitats. Risk taking often develops from the overlap of human and elephant habitat in Asian and African range countries, where elephants forage for food in human habitat and crop fields, leading to conflict over high-quality resources. To mitigate this conflict, a better understanding of the elephants’ sensory world and its impact on their decision-making process should be considered seriously in the development of long-term strategies for promoting coexistence between humans and elephants. In this review, we explore the elephants’ sensory systems for audition and olfaction, their multi-modal capacities for communication, and the anthropogenic changes that are affecting their behavior, as well as the need for greater consideration of elephant behavior in elephant conservation efforts.
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20
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Bartel SL, Orrock JL. The important role of animal social status in vertebrate seed dispersal. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1094-1109. [PMID: 35235713 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Seed dispersal directly affects plant establishment, gene flow and fitness. Understanding patterns in seed dispersal is, therefore, fundamental to understanding plant ecology and evolution, as well as addressing challenges of extinction and global change. Our ability to understand dispersal is limited because seeds may be dispersed by multiple agents, and the effectiveness of these agents can be highly variable both among and within species. We provide a novel framework that links seed dispersal to animal social status, a key component of behaviour. Because social status affects individual resource access and movement, it provides a critical link to two factors that determine seed dispersal: the quantity of seeds dispersed and the spatial patterns of dispersal. Social status may have unappreciated effects on post-dispersal seed survival and recruitment when social status affects individual habitat use. Hence, environmental changes, such as selective harvesting and urbanisation, that affect animal social structure may have unappreciated consequences for seed dispersal. This framework highlights these exciting new hypotheses linking environmental change, social structure and seed dispersal. By outlining experimental approaches to test these hypotheses, we hope to facilitate studies across a wide diversity of plant-animal networks, which may uncover emerging hotspots or significant declines in seed dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah L Bartel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John L Orrock
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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21
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McConkey KR, Aldy F, Ong L, Sutisna DJ, Campos‐Arceiz A. Lost mutualisms: Seed dispersal by Sumatran rhinos, the world’s most threatened megafauna. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim R. McConkey
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
| | - Firmann Aldy
- Konservasi Rimba Indonesia Kota Depok West Java Indonesia
| | - Lisa Ong
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | | | - Ahimsa Campos‐Arceiz
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
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22
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A Review of Human-Elephant Ecological Relations in the Malay Peninsula: Adaptations for Coexistence. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between humans and elephants is of particular interest for reducing conflict and encouraging coexistence. This paper reviews the ecological relationship between humans and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the rainforests of the Malay Peninsula, examining the extent of differentiation of spatio-temporal and trophic niches. We highlight the strategies that people and elephants use to partition an overlapping fundamental niche. When elephants are present, forest-dwelling people often build above-the-ground shelters; and when people are present, elephants avoid open areas during the day. People are able to access several foods that are out of reach of elephants or inedible; for example, people use water to leach poisons from tubers of wild yams, use blowpipes to kill arboreal game, and climb trees to access honey. We discuss how the transition to agriculture affected the human–elephant relationship by increasing the potential for competition. We conclude that the traditional foraging cultures of the Malay Peninsula are compatible with wildlife conservation.
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23
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Poulsen JR, Beirne C, Rundel C, Baldino M, Kim S, Knorr J, Minich T, Jin L, Núñez CL, Xiao S, Mbamy W, Obiang GN, Masseloux J, Nkoghe T, Ebanega MO, Clark CJ, Fay MJ, Morkel P, Okouyi J, White LJT, Wright JP. Long Distance Seed Dispersal by Forest Elephants. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.789264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
By dispersing seeds long distances, large, fruit-eating animals influence plant population spread and community dynamics. After fruit consumption, animal gut passage time and movement determine seed dispersal patterns and distances. These, in turn, are influenced by extrinsic, environmental variables and intrinsic, individual-level variables. We simulated seed dispersal by forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) by integrating gut passage data from wild elephants with movement data from 96 individuals. On average, elephants dispersed seeds 5.3 km, with 89% of seeds dispersed farther than 1 km. The longest simulated seed dispersal distance was 101 km, with an average maximum dispersal distance of 40.1 km. Seed dispersal distances varied among national parks, perhaps due to unmeasured environmental differences such as habitat heterogeneity and configuration, but not with human disturbance or habitat openness. On average, male elephants dispersed seeds farther than females. Elephant behavioral traits strongly influenced dispersal distances, with bold, exploratory elephants dispersing seeds 1.1 km farther than shy, idler elephants. Protection of forest elephants, particularly males and highly mobile, exploratory individuals, is critical to maintaining long distance seed dispersal services that shape plant communities and tropical forest habitat.
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24
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Bonnald J, Utge J, Kuhner MK, Wasser SK, Asalu E, Okimat JP, Krief S. Who are the elephants living in the hybridization zone? How genetics may guide conservation to better protect endangered elephants. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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25
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De R, Sharma R, Davidar P, Arumugam N, Sedhupathy A, Puyravaud JP, Selvan KM, Rahim PA, Udayraj S, Parida J, Digal DK, Kanagaraj R, Kakati K, Nigam P, Williams AC, Habib B, Goyal SP. Pan-India population genetics signifies the importance of habitat connectivity for wild Asian elephant conservation. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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26
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Jaafar R, Yadok BG, Elisha EB, Chapman HM. Grassland trees and the common bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
promote Afromontane forest restoration. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ridwan Jaafar
- Ecology and Biodiversity Department Biology Vrije Universiteit Brussels Brussels Belgium
| | | | | | - Hazel M. Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
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27
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Benitez L, Queenborough SA. Fruit trees drive small‐scale movement of elephants in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Benitez
- Yale School of the Environment Yale University New Haven CT USA
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Borah
- Dept of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State Univ. Logan UT USA
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29
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Wells HBM, Crego RD, Opedal ØH, Khasoha LM, Alston JM, Reed CG, Weiner S, Kurukura S, Hassan AA, Namoni M, Ekadeli J, Kimuyu DM, Young TP, Kartzinel TR, Palmer TM, Pringle RM, Goheen JR. Experimental evidence that effects of megaherbivores on mesoherbivore space use are influenced by species' traits. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2510-2522. [PMID: 34192343 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The extinction of 80% of megaherbivore (>1,000 kg) species towards the end of the Pleistocene altered vegetation structure, fire dynamics and nutrient cycling world-wide. Ecologists have proposed (re)introducing megaherbivores or their ecological analogues to restore lost ecosystem functions and reinforce extant but declining megaherbivore populations. However, the effects of megaherbivores on smaller herbivores are poorly understood. We used long-term exclusion experiments and multispecies hierarchical models fitted to dung counts to test (a) the effect of megaherbivores (elephant and giraffe) on the occurrence (dung presence) and use intensity (dung pile density) of mesoherbivores (2-1,000 kg), and (b) the extent to which the responses of each mesoherbivore species was predictable based on their traits (diet and shoulder height) and phylogenetic relatedness. Megaherbivores increased the predicted occurrence and use intensity of zebras but reduced the occurrence and use intensity of several other mesoherbivore species. The negative effect of megaherbivores on mesoherbivore occurrence was stronger for shorter species, regardless of diet or relatedness. Megaherbivores substantially reduced the expected total use intensity (i.e. cumulative dung density of all species) of mesoherbivores, but only minimally reduced the expected species richness (i.e. cumulative predicted occurrence probabilities of all species) of mesoherbivores (by <1 species). Simulated extirpation of megaherbivores altered use intensity by mesoherbivores, which should be considered during (re)introductions of megaherbivores or their ecological proxies. Species' traits (in this case shoulder height) may be more reliable predictors of mesoherbivores' responses to megaherbivores than phylogenetic relatedness, and may be useful for predicting responses of data-limited species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry B M Wells
- Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Space for Giants, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Ramiro D Crego
- National Zoo and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | | | - Leo M Khasoha
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Program in Ecology, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Jesse M Alston
- Program in Ecology, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Görlitz, Germany
| | - Courtney G Reed
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sarah Weiner
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Program in Ecology, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Duncan M Kimuyu
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Natural Resources, Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya
| | - Truman P Young
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Plant Sciences and Ecology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tyler R Kartzinel
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Todd M Palmer
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert M Pringle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jacob R Goheen
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Program in Ecology, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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30
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Anoop NR, Sen S, Vinayan PA, Ganesh T. Native mammals disperse the highly invasive
Senna spectabilis
in the Western Ghats, India. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. R. Anoop
- Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Srirampura Benglauru India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal India
| | - Sandeep Sen
- Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Srirampura Benglauru India
| | - P. A. Vinayan
- Ferns – A society for Nature Conservation Mananthavady Wayanad, Kerala India
| | - Thyagarajan Ganesh
- Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Srirampura Benglauru India
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31
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African forest elephant movements depend on time scale and individual behavior. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12634. [PMID: 34135350 PMCID: PMC8208977 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The critically endangered African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) plays a vital role in maintaining the structure and composition of Afrotropical forests, but basic information is lacking regarding the drivers of elephant movement and behavior at landscape scales. We use GPS location data from 96 individuals throughout Gabon to determine how five movement behaviors vary at different scales, how they are influenced by anthropogenic and environmental covariates, and to assess evidence for behavioral syndromes-elephants which share suites of similar movement traits. Elephants show some evidence of behavioral syndromes along an 'idler' to 'explorer' axis-individuals that move more have larger home ranges and engage in more 'exploratory' movements. However, within these groups, forest elephants express remarkable inter-individual variation in movement behaviours. This variation highlights that no two elephants are the same and creates challenges for practitioners aiming to design conservation initiatives.
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32
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Teman SJ, Stevens N, Monadjem A, Fletcher RJ, Austin JD, McCleery R. Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.676572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In savannas across the planet, encroaching woody plants are altering ecosystem functions and reshaping communities. Seed predation by rodents may serve to slow the encroachment of woody plants in grasslands and savannas. Our goals for this study were to determine if rodents in an African savanna selectively removed seeds of an encroaching plant and if foraging activity was influenced by the local vegetation structure or by the landscape context. From trials with two species of seeds (encroacher = Dichrostachys cinerea, non-encroaching overstory tree = Senegalia nigrescens) at 64 seed stations, we recorded 1,065 foraging events by seven species of granivorous rodents. We found a strong positive relationship between rodent activity and the number of seeds removed during trials. Foraging events were dominated by rodent seed predators, with <10.6% of events involving a rodent with the potential for secondary dispersal. Rodents selectively removed the seeds of the encroaching species, removing 32.6% more D. cinerea seeds compared to S. nigrescens. Additionally, rodent activity and the number of seeds removed increased at sites with more grass biomass. Our results suggest a potential mechanistic role for rodents in mitigating the spread of woody plants in grass dominated savannas.
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33
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Wall J, Wittemyer G, Klinkenberg B, LeMay V, Blake S, Strindberg S, Henley M, Vollrath F, Maisels F, Ferwerda J, Douglas-Hamilton I. Human footprint and protected areas shape elephant range across Africa. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2437-2445.e4. [PMID: 33798431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two millennia, and at an accelerating pace, the African elephant (Loxodonta spp. Lin.) has been threatened by human activities across its range.1-7 We investigate the correlates of elephant home range sizes across diverse biomes. Annual and 16-day elliptical time density home ranges8 were calculated by using GPS tracking data collected from 229 African savannah and forest elephants (L. africana and L. cyclotis, respectively) between 1998 and 2013 at 19 sites representing bushveld, savannah, Sahel, and forest biomes. Our analysis considered the relationship between home range area and sex, species, vegetation productivity, tree cover, surface temperature, rainfall, water, slope, aggregate human influence, and protected area use. Irrespective of these environmental conditions, long-term annual ranges were overwhelmingly affected by human influence and protected area use. Only over shorter, 16-day periods did environmental factors, particularly water availability and vegetation productivity, become important in explaining space use. Our work highlights the degree to which the human footprint and existing protected areas now constrain the distribution of the world's largest terrestrial mammal.9,10 A habitat suitability model, created by evaluating every square kilometer of Africa, predicts that 18,169,219 km2 would be suitable as elephant habitat-62% of the continent. The current elephant distribution covers just 17% of this potential range of which 57.4% falls outside protected areas. To stem the continued extirpation and to secure the elephants' future, effective and expanded protected areas and improved capacity for coexistence across unprotected range are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Wall
- Mara Elephant Project, PO Box 2606, Nairobi, Kenya, 00502; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Save the Elephants, PO Box 54667, Nairobi, Kenya, 00200
| | - Brian Klinkenberg
- Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 1984 West Mall, Vancouver B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z2
| | - Valerie LeMay
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Forest Sciences Centre #2045-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Stephen Blake
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA; Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany; Biology Department, Saint Louis University, Biology Extension Building, 1008 S. Spring Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103, USA; WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63100, USA
| | - Samantha Strindberg
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Michelle Henley
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Private Bag X5, Florida 1710, South Africa; Elephants Alive, PO Box 960, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa
| | - Fritz Vollrath
- Save the Elephants, PO Box 54667, Nairobi, Kenya, 00200; Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK; Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555 - 10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Fiona Maisels
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA; School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Jelle Ferwerda
- University of Twente, Faculty of Engineering Technology, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Iain Douglas-Hamilton
- Save the Elephants, PO Box 54667, Nairobi, Kenya, 00200; Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
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34
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Chen S, Sun GZ, Wang Y, Huang C, Chen Y, Liu P, Deng Y, Cao DF, Zhang MX, Ong S, Zhang ZY, Yang HP, Wang QY, Wang B, Zheng X, Lei Y, Li C, Sun J, Bao MW, Yang ZC, Guan L, Sun YK, Zhou FY, Liu JX, Li LL, Wang F, Corlett RT, Quan RC, Chen MY, Zhang L, Shi K, Campos-Arceiz A. A multistakeholder exercise to identify research and conservation priorities for Asian elephants in China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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35
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Laguardia A, Gobush K, Bourgeois S, Strindberg S, Abitsi G, Ebouta F, Fay J, Gopalaswamy A, Maisels F, Ogden R, White L, Stokes E. Assessing the feasibility of density estimation methodologies for African forest elephant at large spatial scales. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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36
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37
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Stand Structure, Biomass and Carbon Storage in Gmelina arborea Plantation at Agricultural Landscape in Foothills of Eastern Himalayas. LAND 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/land10040387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the modern era, Gmelina arborea plantations are a hotspot of future research because of their high carbon sequestration potential. The present work was conducted during 2018 to 2020 on a young unmanaged Gmelina farm to understand the ecosystem’s carbon and its dynamics. The study area was categorized into three age classes: ≤5, 5–10, and 10–15 years. In a plantation, Gmelina trees (10%) were randomly selected while other trees (90%) were also taken into the consideration for ecosystem carbon. A stratified random nested quadrate sampling method was adopted for analyzing other vegetation forms under study. Overall, 51 individual species in the studied Gmelina farm were found which includes 23 tree species, 7 shrub species, 16 herbs, 2 climbers, and 3 species of ferns. The estimated quantitative vegetation parameters and diversity indices indicate that the plant assemblages were heterogeneous with native diverse species evenly distributed with fairly higher densities, frequencies, and abundance. Herbs were the most important species followed by shrubs and trees. Consequently, with the increasing age of plantation, the richness of plant species increased. Soil properties were significantly influenced by the age of the plantation but exhibited no discreet trend. Total biomass density and total carbon density increased with increasing plantation age while no drastic variation was found in available soil organic carbon (SOC) because of insignificant variability in litter production. Total carbon, available SOC (up to 60 cm depth) and ecosystem carbon in the three age class plantations fell in the ranges of 54.51–59.91, 48.18–55.73, and 104.81–110.77 Mg ha−1, respectively. The carbon sequestration potential of Gmelina arborea is higher compared to other reported species and highly supportive of converting unutilized agricultural landscapes to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide in future.
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38
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Aziz SA, McConkey KR, Tanalgo K, Sritongchuay T, Low MR, Yong JY, Mildenstein TL, Nuevo-Diego CE, Lim VC, Racey PA. The Critical Importance of Old World Fruit Bats for Healthy Ecosystems and Economies. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.641411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive documentation of the ecological and economic importance of Old World fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) and the many threats they face from humans, negative attitudes towards pteropodids have persisted, fuelled by perceptions of bats as being pests and undesirable neighbours. Such long-term negativity towards bats is now further exacerbated by more recent disease-related concerns, particularly associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic. There remains an urgent need to investigate and highlight the positive and beneficial aspects of bats across the Old World. While previous reviews have summarised these extensively, numerous new studies conducted over the last 36 years have provided further valuable data and insights which warrant an updated review. Here we synthesise research on pteropodid-plant interactions, comprising diet, ecological roles, and ecosystem services, conducted during 1985-2020. We uncovered a total of 311 studies covering 75 out of the known 201 pteropodid species (37%), conducted in 47 countries. The majority of studies documented diet (52% of all studies; 67 pteropodid species), followed by foraging movement (49%; 50 pteropodid species), with fewer studies directly investigating the roles played by pteropodids in seed dispersal (24%; 41 pteropodid species), pollination (14%; 19 pteropodid species), and conflict with fruit growers (12%; 11 pteropodid species). Pteropodids were recorded feeding on 1072 plant species from 493 genera and 148 families, with fruits comprising the majority of plant parts consumed, followed by flowers/nectar/pollen, leaves, and other miscellaneous parts. Sixteen pteropodid species have been confirmed to act as pollinators for a total of 21 plant species, and 29 pteropodid species have been confirmed to act as seed dispersers for a total of 311 plant species. Anthropogenic threats disrupting bat-plant interactions in the Old World include hunting, direct persecution, habitat loss/disturbance, invasive species, and climate change, leading to ecosystem-level repercussions. We identify notable research gaps and important research priorities to support conservation action for pteropodids.
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39
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Spengler RN, Petraglia M, Roberts P, Ashastina K, Kistler L, Mueller NG, Boivin N. Exaptation Traits for Megafaunal Mutualisms as a Factor in Plant Domestication. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:649394. [PMID: 33841476 PMCID: PMC8024633 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.649394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Megafaunal extinctions are recurring events that cause evolutionary ripples, as cascades of secondary extinctions and shifting selective pressures reshape ecosystems. Megafaunal browsers and grazers are major ecosystem engineers, they: keep woody vegetation suppressed; are nitrogen cyclers; and serve as seed dispersers. Most angiosperms possess sets of physiological traits that allow for the fixation of mutualisms with megafauna; some of these traits appear to serve as exaptation (preadaptation) features for farming. As an easily recognized example, fleshy fruits are, an exaptation to agriculture, as they evolved to recruit a non-human disperser. We hypothesize that the traits of rapid annual growth, self-compatibility, heavy investment in reproduction, high plasticity (wide reaction norms), and rapid evolvability were part of an adaptive syndrome for megafaunal seed dispersal. We review the evolutionary importance that megafauna had for crop and weed progenitors and discuss possible ramifications of their extinction on: (1) seed dispersal; (2) population dynamics; and (3) habitat loss. Humans replaced some of the ecological services that had been lost as a result of late Quaternary extinctions and drove rapid evolutionary change resulting in domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert N. Spengler
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Petraglia
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
- Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
- School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Patrick Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Kseniia Ashastina
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Logan Kistler
- Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Natalie G. Mueller
- Department of Archaeology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Nicole Boivin
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
- Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
- School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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40
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Chen Y, Sun Y, Atzeni L, Gibson L, Hua M, Li K, Shi K, Dudgeon D. Anthropogenic pressures increase extinction risk of an isolated Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in southwestern China, as revealed by a combination of molecular- and landscape-scale approaches. Integr Zool 2021; 17:1078-1094. [PMID: 33728791 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Identification of the effect of anthropogenic threats on ecosystem is crucial. We used molecular tools and remote sensing to evaluate the population status of an isolated Asian elephant population in southwestern China in response to changes in habitat suitability between 1989 and 2019. A total of 22 unique genotypes were identified from 117 dung samples collected between March and June 2018 using microsatellite DNA analysis, including 13 males and 9 females. Based on the size of fecal boli, 1 animal was a juvenile, 9 were subadults, and 12 were adults, indicating that recruitment was limited. The effective population size was small (15.3) but there was no signature of a recent population bottleneck. We observed a low genetic diversity (He = 0.46 ± 0.05) and a high level of inbreeding (Fis of 0.43 ± 0.11), suggesting low population viability and high risk of extinction. In total, these elephants lost nearly two thirds (62%) of their habitat in 3 decades. The expansion of agriculture and rubber plantations followed by an increase in human settlements after 1989 increased the isolation of this population. We recommend that resettlement of 800 inhabitants of 2 villages and the abandonment of associated farmland and rubber plantations would make an additional 20 km2 of suitable habitat available. This could allow a population increase of 14 elephants, possibly by translocating individuals from elsewhere in China. Our findings can be applied to the management and conservation of other fragmented populations in China or in other range countries of Asian elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yakuan Sun
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Eco-Bridge Continental, Beijing, China
| | - Luciano Atzeni
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Luke Gibson
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mei Hua
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Keyu Li
- School of Earth Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Kun Shi
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Eco-Bridge Continental, Beijing, China
| | - David Dudgeon
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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41
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Sun Y, Chen Y, Díaz-Sacco JJ, Shi K. Assessing population structure and body condition to inform conservation strategies for a small isolated Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in southwest China. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248210. [PMID: 33690688 PMCID: PMC7942997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve in China represents a unique evolutionary branch that has been isolated for more than twenty years from neighboring populations in Myanmar. The scarcity of information on population structure, sex ratio, and body condition makes it difficult to develop effective conservation measures for this elephant population. Twelve individuals were identified from 3,860 valid elephant images obtained from February to June 2018 (5,942 sampling effort nights) at 52 camera sites. Three adult females, three adult males, one subadult male, two juvenile females, two juvenile males and one male calf were identified. The ratio of adult females to adult males was 1:1, and the ratio of reproductive ability was 1:0.67, indicating the scarcity of reproductive females as an important limiting factor to population growth. A population density of 5.32 ± 1.56 elephants/100 km2 was estimated using Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR) models. The health condition of this elephant population was assessed using an 11-point scale of Body Condition Scoring (BCS). The average BCS was 5.75 (n = 12, range 2–9), with adult females scoring lower than adult males. This isolated population is extremely small and has an inverted pyramid age structure and therefore is at a high risk of extinction. We propose three plans to improve the survival of this population: improving the quality and quantity of food resources, removing fencing and establishing corridors between the east and wet parts of Nangunhe reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yakuan Sun
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Biological Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Juan José Díaz-Sacco
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Shi
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Eco-Bridge Continental, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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42
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Mahmood T, Vu TT, Campos-Arceiz A, Akrim F, Andleeb S, Farooq M, Hamid A, Munawar N, Waseem M, Hussain A, Fatima H, Khan MR, Mahmood S. Historical and current distribution ranges and loss of mega-herbivores and carnivores of Asia. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10738. [PMID: 33628635 PMCID: PMC7894109 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem functioning is dependent a lot on large mammals, which are, however, vulnerable and facing extinction risks due to human impacts mainly. Megafauna of Asia has been declining for a long, not only in numbers but also in their distribution ranges. In the current study, we collected information on past and current occurrence and distribution records of Asia’s megafauna species. We reconstructed the historical distribution ranges of the six herbivores and four carnivores for comparison with their present ranges, to quantify spatially explicit levels of mega-defaunation. Results revealed that historically the selected megafauna species were more widely distributed than at current. Severe range contraction was observed for the Asiatic lion, three rhino species, Asian elephant, tigers, and tapirs. Defaunation maps generated have revealed the vanishing of megafauna from parts of the East, Southeast, and Southwest Asia, even some protected Areas losing up to eight out of ten megafaunal species. These defaunation maps can help develop future conservation policies, to save the remaining distribution ranges of large mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Mahmood
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.,School of Geography, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tuong Thuy Vu
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.,Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.,Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, China
| | - Faraz Akrim
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.,Department of Zoology, University of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - Shaista Andleeb
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Muhammad Farooq
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Hamid
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Munawar
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Waseem
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Abid Hussain
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Hira Fatima
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Raza Khan
- Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sajid Mahmood
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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de la Torre JA, Wong EP, Lechner AM, Zulaikha N, Zawawi A, Abdul‐Patah P, Saaban S, Goossens B, Campos‐Arceiz A. There will be conflict – agricultural landscapes are prime, rather than marginal, habitats for Asian elephants. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. de la Torre
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Programa Jaguares de la Selva Maya Bioconciencia A.C Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - E. P. Wong
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
| | - A. M. Lechner
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Lincoln Centre for Water and Planetary Health School of Geography University of Lincoln Brayford Pool Lincoln Lincolnshire LN6 7TS UK
| | - N. Zulaikha
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
| | - A. Zawawi
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - P. Abdul‐Patah
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - S. Saaban
- Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - B. Goossens
- Organisms and Environment Division Cardiff School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK
- Danau Girang Field Centre Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia
- Sabah Wildlife Department Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia
- Sustainable Places Research Institute Cardiff University Cardiff UK
| | - A. Campos‐Arceiz
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
- Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences XTBG Menglun Yunnan China
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Tan WH, Hii A, Solana‐Mena A, Wong EP, Loke VPW, Tan ASL, Kromann‐Clausen A, Hii N, bin Pura P, bin Tunil MT, A/L Din S, Chin CF, Campos‐Arceiz A. Long‐term monitoring of seed dispersal by Asian elephants in a Sundaland rainforest. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Harn Tan
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Adeline Hii
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Alicia Solana‐Mena
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Ee Phin Wong
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
- Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih Malaysia
| | - Vivienne P. W. Loke
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Ange S. L. Tan
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Anders Kromann‐Clausen
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Ning Hii
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Param bin Pura
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Tauhid bin Tunil
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Sudin A/L Din
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Chiew Foan Chin
- School of Biosciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
| | - Ahimsa Campos‐Arceiz
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences The University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
- Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
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The role of the brown bear Ursus arctos as a legitimate megafaunal seed disperser. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1282. [PMID: 33446727 PMCID: PMC7809135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80440-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Megafaunal frugivores can consume large amounts of fruits whose seeds may be dispersed over long distances, thus, affecting plant regeneration processes and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) as legitimate megafaunal seed dispersers. We assessed the quantity component of seed dispersal by brown bears across its entire distribution based on information about both the relative frequency of occurrence and species composition of fleshy fruits in the diet of brown bears extracted from the literature. We assessed the quality component of seed dispersal based on germination experiments for 11 fleshy-fruited plant species common in temperate and boreal regions and frequently eaten by brown bears. Across its distribution, fleshy fruits, on average, represented 24% of the bear food items and 26% of the total volume consumed. Brown bears consumed seeds from at least 101 fleshy-fruited plant species belonging to 24 families and 42 genera, of which Rubus (Rosaceae) and Vaccinium (Ericaceae) were most commonly eaten. Brown bears inhabiting Mediterranean forests relied the most on fleshy fruits and consumed the largest number of species per study area. Seeds ingested by bears germinated at higher percentages than those from whole fruits, and at similar percentages than manually depulped seeds. We conclude that brown bears are legitimate seed dispersers as they consume large quantities of seeds that remain viable after gut passage. The decline of these megafaunal frugivores may compromise seed dispersal services and plant regeneration processes.
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LaDue CA, Vandercone RPG, Kiso WK, Freeman EW. Scars of human–elephant conflict: patterns inferred from field observations of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr20175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextHuman–elephant conflict (HEC) is a major threat to Asian elephants as humans and elephants are forced to share common resources. In Sri Lanka, human-dominated landscapes adjacent to protected areas promote high rates of HEC, especially in the form of crop-foraging by elephants. Crop-foraging can be dangerous to both elephants and humans involved in the conflict. Gunfire is a common way for human communities to deter crop-foraging elephants, and gunshot wounds are commonly described in this elephant population on necropsy.
AimsWe sought to quantify and describe unique scar patterns among Asian elephants in a protected area, Wasgamuwa National Park, attributed to HEC.
MethodsWe identified 38 adult female and 64 adult male elephants and recorded the age class and body condition of each with established standards. Using photographs, we counted the number, position, and relative size of all scars on each animal.
Key resultsMale elephants had significantly more scars than did females, and for males, the number of scars increased progressively with age. Additionally, male elephants with higher body conditions had more scars. Finally, males tended to have more scars towards the head, especially at older ages.
ConclusionsDifferences in total scar counts between the sexes in this population imply that male elephants in this area more frequently engage in HEC than do females, following observations previously described in the literature. Furthermore, the fact that male elephants acquired progressively more scars as they aged, and that fatter elephants had more scars, indicates that previous exposure to HEC may not have been a deterrent for future events among these males, and potentially, crops served as valuable food sources for these animals. Finally, the changing body locations of these scars with age in males possibly shows plastic behavioural responses during crop-foraging or lower tolerance by farmers towards habitual crop foragers.
ImplicationsThese results emphasise the need for animal-based approaches to HEC mitigation. Similarly, conservation managers in Sri Lanka and other elephant range countries should investigate similar methods that estimate patterns of HEC to develop effective management strategies directly targeting animals most likely to engage in conflict.
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Seed dispersal by the brown bear in a mixed temperate forest: fruit type matters. MAMMAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00551-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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48
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Entry and aggregation at a Central African bai reveal social patterns in the elusive forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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49
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Tsitkov S, Song Y, Rodriguez JB, Zhang Y, Hess H. Kinesin-Recruiting Microtubules Exhibit Collective Gliding Motion while Forming Motor Trails. ACS NANO 2020; 14:16547-16557. [PMID: 33054177 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c03263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules gliding on surfaces coated with kinesin motors are minimalist experimental systems for studying collective behavior. Collective behavior in these systems arises from interactions between filaments, for example, from steric interactions, depletion forces, or cross-links. To maximize the utilization of system components and the production of work, it is desirable to achieve mutualistic interactions leading to the congregations of both types of agents, that is, cytoskeletal filaments and molecular motors. To this end, we used a microtubule-kinesin system, where motors reversibly bind to the surface via an interaction between a hexahistidine (His6) tag on the motor and a Ni(II)-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) moiety on the surface. The surface density of binding sites for kinesin motors was increased relative to our earlier work, driving the motors from the solution to the surface. Characterization of the motor-surface interactions in the absence of microtubules yielded kinetic parameters consistent with previous data and revealed the capacity of the surface to support two-dimensional motor diffusion. The motor density gradually fell over 2 h, presumably due to the stripping of Ni(II) from the NTA moieties on the surface. Microtubules gliding on these reversibly bound motors were unable to cross each other and at high enough densities began to align and form long, dense bundles. The kinesin motors accumulated in trails surrounding the microtubule bundles and participated in microtubule transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Tsitkov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Yuchen Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Juan B Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Yifei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Henry Hess
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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50
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Maicher V, Delabye S, Murkwe M, Doležal J, Altman J, Kobe IN, Desmist J, Fokam EB, Pyrcz T, Tropek R. Effects of disturbances by forest elephants on diversity of trees and insects in tropical rainforests on Mount Cameroon. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21618. [PMID: 33303812 PMCID: PMC7729851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78659-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural disturbances are essential for tropical forests biodiversity. In the Afrotropics, megaherbivores have played a key role before their recent decline. Contrastingly to savanna elephants, forest elephants’ impact on ecosystems remains poorly studied. Few decades ago, forests on Mount Cameroon were divided by lava flows, not being crossed by a local population of forest elephants until now. We assessed communities of trees, butterflies and two guilds of moths in the disturbed and undisturbed forests split by the longest lava flow. We surveyed 32 plots, recording 2025 trees of 97 species, and 7853 insects of 437 species. The disturbed forests differed in reduced tree density, height, and high canopy cover, and in increased DBH. Forest elephants’ selective browsing and foraging also decreased tree species richness and altered their composition. The elephant disturbance increased butterfly species richness and had various effects on species richness and composition of the insect groups. These changes were likely caused by disturbance-driven alterations of habitats and species composition of trees. Moreover, the abandonment of forests by elephants led to local declines of range-restricted butterflies. The recent declines of forest elephants across the Afrotropics probably caused similar changes in forest biodiversity and should be reflected by conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Maicher
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. .,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. .,Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Dr., Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - Sylvain Delabye
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mercy Murkwe
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Doležal
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelska 135, 37982, Trebon, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Altman
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelska 135, 37982, Trebon, Czech Republic
| | - Ishmeal N Kobe
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julie Desmist
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,University Paris-Saclay, 15 rue Georges Clemenceau, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Eric B Fokam
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Tomasz Pyrcz
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30387, Krakow, Poland.,Nature Education Centre of the Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 5, 30387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Robert Tropek
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. .,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844, Prague, Czech Republic.
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